LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Bike riding and beer. Has there ever been a more classic pairing?

Enjoying a brew after a long, sweaty ride is a time honored tradition, Chris Johnson, owner and brewmaster of People's Brewing Co. said, and one the Lafayette-based brewery has always embraced.

"Bike culture and craft beer go hand-in-hand. ... There is a camaraderie around bicycling and there is a similar sense with craft beer," Johnson said.

People's commitment to bike culture was recently acknowledged by the League of American Bicyclists, which designated People's as a bronze level Bicycle Friendly Business.

The brewery is the first business in Tippecanoe County to be officially designated a bicycle friendly business. There are just over 50 businesses around Indiana that have received this commendation from the League, a disproportionate number located in Indianapolis.

"It's a short list and we are excited to help promote the idea that we should be a more bike friendly community," Steph Silva, People's operations coordinator, said.

Since its genesis People's has always promoted local cycling events.

"Cyclists have always patronized the business. ... And we have encouraged that culture. We have also always been happy to let people know about cycling events," Silva said.

People's provides educational resources on bicycle safety and also sponsors a cycling team. Silva said she is working on developing an events calendar for the Greater Lafayette cycling community.

Aside from promoting cycling events, People's also tries to make their location as bike friendly as possible.

"We've partnered with Hodson’s Bay Company. They've given us a bike repair kit, which we always have on hand and is available to anyone," Johnson said.

They've also moved their bike rack away from the parking lot so bikes are more protected.

This designation from the League will help connect People's with other bicycle friendly businesses throughout the country. Silva said she hopes to learn from these establishments how to make People's more accessible to cyclists so it can better serve that clientele and become a model for other local businesses.

"We consider ourselves a bike friendly business and this program allowed us to set some goals for ourselves," Silva said.